The traditional origins of lacquer boxes, and the reason for their prevalence in Russian culture, lies in one of Peter the Greats decrees in 1721, where he asked for ninety-four lacquer tiles to adorn the Monplaisir Palace in St. Petersburg.

This decree created an influx of artisans trained in the art of painting lacquered wood, who went on to use this newfound knowledge to create beautiful, affordable snuff boxes for commoners.

Today, the craftsmanship of those past artisans has been passed down, with their expertise finding focus in four key towns: Fedoskino, Palekh, Kholuy, and Mystora. Each town has its own school that professes its own distinctive style.

Our unique collection contains boxes from the twentieth-century masters of their respective schools: Alexei Bogatikov and the widely respected Alexei Kovalyov of Palekh, Pavel Sladkov of Fedoskino, Kosobryukhov of Kholuy.

All boxes were made between 1967-1976.

There will be an opening reception on July 7th, 2017 at 7:30 pm, where we will also host a free tasting of Russian Standards new Cloisonn Edition vodka. The Cloisonn bottles are truly beautiful, with designs emulating the meticulous techniques of Faberge art. This tradition was treasured by the Tsars of the Imperial Russian Court of yore and endures today because of its delicate charm.

Renowned in its native Russia and the world at large, Russian Standard has always been a staple amongst serious vodka lovers as a brand of reliably high quality with a smooth, impeccably balanced taste.